Internship Agreements

Students must verify whether their program of study qualifies them for an internship agreement. The program must include a total of at least 200 hours of coursework over the course of the year. To verify this, students can consult their program brochure or contact their academic office.

Note: This means that certain institutional degrees (notably some “DL—language diplomas”) as well as programs such as “Passeport Langues O’” do not qualify for an internship agreement.

The student then compiles an application package for an internship agreement. To be complete, this application must include the following items:

• The internship agreement, properly completed and signed by all parties (with the exception of the General Directorate of Services).
  • The student’s signature
  • The host organization’s signature and/or stamp
  • The signature of the internship supervisor
  • The signature of a faculty member from the student’s academic department
• A certificate of enrollment for the current academic year.
• A certificate of liability insurance, which must explicitly state that the internships are covered for their entire duration.

If your internship takes place (even partially) abroad, you must also provide two additional documents: a certificate of repatriation, health, and hospitalization; and a receipt confirming your successful registration on Ariane, the Ministry’s platform, accessible via this link.

Any changes during your internship (remote work, schedule, internship end date, etc.) must be documented in an AMENDMENT, which can be downloaded at French or English.

Please note that any incomplete application (essential text fields on the internship agreement or addendum left blank, missing signatures, supporting documents not provided, etc.) will be automatically rejected.

After the agreement has been signed by SIO-IP, a scanned copy of the agreement showing all signatures will be emailed to you from View e-mail.

You are then authorized to begin your internship!

Dates and Duration

Your internship must not, under any circumstances, extend beyond the end date of your enrollment at INALCO, which is set for:

• If you are in your first or second year of a bachelor’s program (L1 or L2), first year of a master’s program (M1), or pursuing an institutional diploma: August 31.
• If you are in your third year of a bachelor’s program (L3) or second year of a master’s program (M2): December 31.

Under no circumstances may an internship exceed 6 months full-time (924 consecutive hours) at the same host organization.

Compensation

If your internship exceeds a total number of hours equivalent to two months of full-time work, your host organization is legally required to pay you a stipend, that is, to provide you with financial compensation for the work you have performed.

The minimum amount of an internship stipend is set at 15% of the hourly social security ceiling, or 4.50 euros per hour as of 2026. Social security ceilings are generally adjusted annually.

Please note: internships abroad may be exempt from this rule, as host organizations based in other countries are not subject to French law.

Which office should I contact to discuss the internship at INALCO?

→ The SIO-IP office, specifically the internship agreement coordinator (Office 2.01): You can visit without an appointment during the hours posted on the office door. 

How many agreements do I need to sign, and who signs them?

→ A single agreement signed in the following order by: the host organization, the faculty advisor, and finally the student. 

Note: For the MEAE or the Ministry of the Armed Forces, these organizations are the last to sign.

Who can be my internship advisor?

→ A tenured faculty member (university professor, associate professor, or certified teacher). 

Does my supervising faculty member have to be from my own department?

→ For students in vocational programs, the supervising faculty member must be affiliated with your program.

Example: For an internship in the second year (L2) of the Japanese and International Relations program, the supervisor must be a faculty member from the International Relations department. This is typically the program director. The supervisor makes the decision in consultation with the relevant department.

→ For students in the professional track of the LLCER Master’s program, the advisor is a faculty member from your department whose area of expertise is most closely related to your internship field: translation, communication, economics, etc.

→ For LLCER students, the internship is not mandatory but is recommended. The advisor is a faculty member from your department.

Example: For a Bachelor’s or Master’s internship in Chinese (LLCER), you choose a faculty member from the Department of Chinese Studies.

What are the minimum and maximum durations for an internship?

→ There is no minimum duration. The maximum duration of an internship is 6 months full-time equivalent, or 924 hours.

Are we required to be paid by the company?

→ Yes, for 309 hours or more (15% of the Social Security base rate, or €4.35 per hour in 2024). Below that threshold, the organization is free to decide whether or not to compensate the intern.

How do I know if my internship is relevant to my field of study?

→ Check with your department (director, instructor).

Can I apply for an internship at any time during the year?

→ Yes. However, for non-mandatory internships, they may only begin in the second semester of the first year of undergraduate studies (subject to approval by the academic staff and the SIO-IP).

What is the deadline for submitting my internship report?

→ It depends on your program: please check with your academic office. 

Do I have to keep the same internship advisor throughout my entire program (in M1 and M2)?

→ Although unusual, this is possible subject to approval by the academic department. 

Is it my academic advisor who decides whether or not to approve the internship at a company?

→ Yes.

Can I do the same internship two years in a row (e.g., in the master’s program)?

→ No; there is nothing preventing a student from doing an internship at the same organization or company two years in a row. This decision is left to the discretion of the supervising professor or the department administration.

Can I complete a non-mandatory internship as part of a Bachelor’s degree in LLCER?

→ Yes. This is strongly recommended during the summer or outside of class hours during the academic year.

Do I have to use the same template for the internship report as the one on the website?

→ No, it depends on your internship advisor and the department. Please check with your academic office.

Where can I find internship opportunities at Inalco?

→ You can consult the binder of internship opportunities / fixed-term contracts / permanent contracts, available in the lobby on the 2^nd floor at the SIO-IP reception and information desk (as well as on the Jobteaser platform, coming soon).